November 25, 2018
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Write your welcome here
Note: St Andrew’s Day falls on 30 November.
On 28 November 1893, New Zealand women participated in a general election for the first time. (Cook Island women had voted earlier on 14 October 1893).
GATHERING
Two millennia ago a fisherman decided on a career change
125 years ago women decided on a voting change
Each statement contains within it much work and toil,
disappointment and triumph
both fear and courage,
determination and devotion to a cause.
Who are we in 2018 and to what and who are we devoting our lives?
May we find answers to that question today and in days to come
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘All people that on earth do hear’
Words: ©2015 Susan Jones Music: WOV 10 Old 100th
All people that on earth do hear
This parish has for all these years
Known all the numinous delight
Of faithful Love, transforming Light
Scots brought their faith to Petone Beach
And celebrated Love’s wide reach
From 1840; worship’s been
Our way to ground Christ in our scene.
And many here found their first faith
Which morphs as we new meanings make
God has been constant and aloof
Weaving in us both warp and woof.
O’er all our worship and our moods
Wairua Tapu always broods
forgiving ill, willing to heal;
Hosting at each communion meal.
For all who’ve gathered here to pray
For worshippers, and music played
For liturgy and Word preached true
We thank those faithful, brave first few
Amen
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS PRAYER One of three versions of the Laird’s Prayer
suggested by the Kirk ‘o Scotland
Wir Faither in Hivin,
Yir name be keepit in awe,
Yir ring begin,
i the warld as in Hivin.
Gie us ilk day wir breid
for the day,
An forgie whit we are awin tae Yirsel,
As we forgie ithers whit is awin tae us.
An dinna trachle us sairly,
but free us frae the Deil;
fur the Croun is yir ain,
An the micht an the glorie,
Warld upo warld.
Sae be it.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Cameron Smart
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme to hear stories, ask questions
and have fun together. We bless you. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
Feel free to pass the peace with those nearby or move to greet others further away. Passing the peace consists of shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you.” The response is “Peace be with you” or just “And with you.” Or, simply saying “Hello” is a good idea. Also feel free to simply observe if you wish!
THE WORD IN TEXTS Heather Macfarlane
Hebrew Bible Genesis 2: 18-25
Gospel John 1: 35-42
Contemporary reading ‘Women’s Suffrage in New Zealand’
by Dr John Tucker
https://www.carey.ac.nz/2018/09/womens-suffrage-new-zealand/
The women’s movement of the late 19th century – first-wave feminism – largely emerged from the churches. The feminist writer, Sandra Coney, acknowledges that “all the prominent early feminists were active Christians.” … Well over half the leading women of the suffragist movement were members of the Women’s Christian temperance Union (WCTU). While
[the suffrage movement] did not begin with the WCTU, that organisation’s activism after 1887 gave huge impetus to the franchise struggle and was crucial to its success.
… the WCTU was strongly Christian in its impulse. Its members were expected to observe “noon-tide prayer,” stopping what they were doing to pray at noon each day. Its vision was profoundly Christian… These women had a broad vision of the Christian gospel. It drove them to evangelism and social action, personal renewal and political reform. Through the activities of the WCTU they played a critical role in the suffrage movement….
What motivated them?
… the primary goal of the WCTU was temperance and suppression of the liquor traffic. However, the WCTU’s members were concerned not just with the social harm caused by alcohol… According to Kate Sheppard, the organisation’s objective was to apply “the Golden Rule to the affairs of … civic life.” This meant social action. WCTU members ran soup kitchens, rehabilitated women prisoners in society, aided “fallen women,” operated night shelters, ran nutrition, cooking and sewing classes, and provided pre-school care (which grew into New Zealand’s kindergarten movement).
But the women of the WCTU did not just want to drive the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. They wanted to erect a fence at the top, through political reform. The breadth of their vision was remarkable. At their meetings they debated …: repealing the Contagious Diseases Act (which protected men but not women involved with prostitution), preventing Sabbath desecration, raising the age of consent for sexual activity (to 21), suppressing gambling, equalising the conditions for divorce for both men and women, reducing smoking, and preserving Maori fishing rights on Lake Rotorua. To achieve all these objectives, the WCTU made obtaining suffrage for women a central concern. Political reform would require political action. Women with a social conscience would need to vote.
The suffrage campaign was … motivated by a deep concern for justice and equality between the sexes. In an early issue of the temperance magazine, White Ribbon, Kate Sheppard wrote of the “humiliating fact” that there was “one law for man and another for woman.” According to the Prohibitionist, lack of the vote implied inferiority, and even suggested that women had no more status than things. In Sheppard’s words, gaining the franchise would allow women to become “persons” at last.
This concern for equality was rooted deeply in Christian theology. Miss H.R. Morrison asserted … in 1892, “Jesus Christ was the first founder and head of the women’s franchise movement. He said that in Him there was neither male nor female in his sight. He considered both sexes equal.” Raewyn Dalziel has argued that the … WCTU were motivated more by a Puritanical moralism rather than by a concern for justice and liberty. But the evidence clearly suggests that justice and liberty were central concerns.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
HYMN ‘Jesus calls us o’er the tumult’
Words: Cecil F. Alexander, 1823-1895 alt Susan Jones 2018
Music: St Andrew (Thorne) BHB 416 (i)
Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice sounding,
Saying, "Christian, follow Me."
As of old Saint Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred.
Leaving all for His dear sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world's golden store.
From distractions that would keep us,
Saying, "Christian, love Me more."
In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
"Christian, love Me more than these."
Jesus calls us; by Thy mercies,
Saviour, make us hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to journeying with you,
Serve and love you best of all.
REFLECTION ‘Andrew and Kate and us’ Susan Jones
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
Andrew gave his life to the cause,
Kate gave her energy to the vote.
We bring money and we bring food this day
so the word of justice and liberty can still ring out
from this church
named for Andrew
and within this country
which celebrates Kate and the band of women
who fought for the vote.
We bring ourselves also
May every gift given with love and devotion
be blessed and effective in its work
So may it be
Amen
We recognise and bless the gifts brought to the table, and those which wing
their way electronically from our banks to the church’s account.
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF ST ANDREW’S
People share notices and visitors are welcomed. If you have a notice, please move to the front row, ready to speak briefly from the lectern.
For the benefit of newcomers, please introduce yourself before you begin.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Catriona Cairns
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Kenya and the Methodist Church in Kenya. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Jacqui Dean (Waitaki electorate) and Matt Doocey, Waimakariri electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Francis Cooperating Parish in Clive and Haumoana, Hawke Bay.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN ‘Come celebrate the women’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Tune: WOV 277 Ellacombe
1.
Come, celebrate the women
who brought the Church to birth!
the gentle revolution
that shall transform the earth:
whose faith was salt and leaven,
whose hearts and minds were free,
and this was their direction --
to peace and unity. 2.
The teachers, saints and mothers
who lived and died unsung
kept safe the gospel story
and taught it to the young;
the Christ child Mary cradled,
the living Word to be,
was crucified for pleading
this peace and unity.
3.
Daughters of the disciples,
you weave the story still,
the fabric of the future
with warmth and love and skill,
you make the bread of wholeness,
the wine of harmony --
and all shall share your feasting
in peace and unity!
BLESSING
Like Andrew we hear the call
Like Kate and the other suffragists, we name the need;
Today we leave here, followers of Jesus’ Way
and thereby sisters and brothers
of Andrew, Kate and the rest who have followed
so may we too follow in our time and place.
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Vivien Chiu (organ) and Hamish Dick (bagpiper)
Our Musicians today
Unless otherwise stated all hymns are used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
Words/music to new hymns and gathering statement, prayers and affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any liturgy will have been written by her. These words can be used in other worship and small group situations without seeking permission. Please acknowledge the source.
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here